IGAD Cyber Drill Participants Demand Enhanced Cooperation Against New Threats

Addis Ababa, June 30, 2026 (ENA) – The IGAD Regional Cyber Exercise 2026 came to an end, with nations involved urging increased regional collaboration, unified cybersecurity strategies, and ongoing efforts to enhance capabilities in response to escalating transnational cyber threats.

The exercise gathered cyber security professionals, government officials, police departments, and key infrastructure managers from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda.

It became clear during the exercise that participants took part in policy debates, technical drills, and real-world cybersecurity defense activities designed to enhance regional readiness and boost collaborative reactions to cyber threats.

In an interview with ENA, Khadra Ali Yusuf, an expert on data governance at IGAD, mentioned that the exercise effectively integrated policy debates with practical technical drills, such as exchanging threat intelligence and analyzing malicious software.

She mentioned that IGAD plans to capitalize on the achievements of the initiative by setting up a Regional Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), allowing member countries to exchange details about cybersecurity threats, perform analyses on malicious software, and disseminate insights gained.

As per Yusuf, IGAD is exploring the possibility of turning the regional cyber exercise into a yearly occurrence to enhance technological skills and foster greater collaboration between participating nations.

"Member countries have explicitly stated that they require additional technical knowledge and greater chances to exchange learning experiences. As IGAD, we intend to conduct these exercises every year," the specialist mentioned.

Head of IT Infrastructure at the Ugandan Prime Minister's office, Robert Lwasa stated that the exercise has allowed countries to share insights on cyber security management, organizational structures, and national plans.

Lwasa emphasized that ongoing training, more robust legal systems, political dedication, and cooperation across regions are crucial for safeguarding vital infrastructure and maintaining a safe online space.

On behalf of South Sudan's National Communication Authority, SOC Analyst Yom Malual Majok stated that the hands-on approach of the drill allowed attendees to practice responding to actual cyber threats impacting governmental bodies, banking networks, and private companies.

She mentioned that the training will enable attendees to recognize essential systems, enhance their ability to respond to incidents, and reinforce national cyber security strategies once they return to their own nations.

She highlighted that protecting against cyber threats involves collective effort and requires cooperation across regions.

"Cyber threats do not focus on a single nation since we all utilize the same internet and function within the same digital space," Majok stated, emphasizing that regional structures and collaborative policies can enhance shared strength against such challenges.

On behalf of Somalia's Ministry of Communications and Technology, ICT Director Hassan Hussein Mohammed highlighted the cyber exercise as very advantageous, noting that attendees acquired significant technical expertise and hands-on experience through collaboration with Ethiopian and global specialists.

He stated that Somalia intends to implement the acquired knowledge to enhance its national cybersecurity organizations and bolster the security of vital infrastructure.

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Cyber Threats Demand Regional Collaboration, Says INSA Deputy Director-General

Addis Ababa, June 30, 2026 (ENA) – Cyber dangers have gone past country lines, highlighting the importance of working together within regions to safeguard vital infrastructure, banking networks, communication services, and people’s confidence, stated Daniel Guta, Deputy Director-General of the Information Network Security Administration (INSA), during the conclusion of the IGAD Regional Cyber Exercise 2026 held in Addis Ababa today.

Speaking to attendees of the five-day regional cyber security exercise, the Deputy Director-General stated that cyber security has now become more than just a national duty; it is also a key concern at both regional and international levels because of how connected digital networks have become.

"Currently, a cybersecurity threat can easily cross international boundaries. A breach targeting one nation may rapidly impact the whole area. Essential infrastructure, banking networks, communication services, and public confidence extend throughout our region. Therefore, our reaction needs to be strongly coordinated," he mentioned.

The Assistant Director-General emphasized that the completion of the exercise signifies the start of a new stage in regional cyber security collaboration instead of the termination of the program.

"This final event does not signify the conclusion of the path. Instead, it represents the start of the most recent stage in global cyber security collaboration," Daniel mentioned.

He identified six key focus areas for upcoming collaboration aimed at enhancing lasting regional cyber resilience. These involve making routine national and regional cyber simulations an official practice, broadening future exercises to address increasingly sophisticated cyber risks, adopting unified cybersecurity standards nationally, setting up systems for swift exchange of threat information across regions, ensuring consistent funding for cybersecurity efforts, and crafting clear strategies to track development.

On behalf of IGAD's Executive Secretary, IGAD Chief Representative in Ethiopia, Abebaw Belachew, stated that the exercise has greatly enhanced the region's joint cybersecurity abilities.

"Five days back, we launched this initiative with the core belief that within our connected system, our safety depends entirely on our shared determination," he remarked. "Today, our regional cybersecurity has significantly improved compared to what it was five days earlier," he continued.

Abeba observed that the activity started with talks about cybersecurity policy, management, and new dangers, then moved to practical instruction in digital investigation techniques utilizing artificial intelligence-based equipment, finally ending with real-time cyber attack exercises on an online network simulation system.

The Leader highlighted that, in addition to technical abilities, the confidence built between cybersecurity experts from participating countries would be crucial in addressing upcoming digital threats.

"If another significant real-world cybersecurity event happens, you won't be dealing with it by yourself. You'll have access to a local group of professionals you can reach out to," he said.

Abebaw also praised Ethiopia and INSA for organizing the event and recognized the assistance provided by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank, and other partner organizations in promoting regional cyber security collaboration.

A five-day exercise ended with the distribution of certificates to attendees representing Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda.

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